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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 09141976CITY OF ST. ANTHONY COUNCIL MINUTES September 14, 1976 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Miedtke at 7:35 P.M. Present for roll call: Sundland, Miedtke, Stauffer and Sauer Absent: Haik (arrived 7:37 P.M.) Also present: Jerry Dulgar, City Manager Larry Vickrey, City Attorney The minutes for the August 24, 1976 council meeting were corrected as follows: Page 4, Paragraph 5: Effective date for existing lots is June 30, 1977 Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Sauer to approve the minutes for the Council meeting held August 24, 1976 corrected. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer seconded by Councilman Stauffer to approve minutes for special council meeting held August 31, 1976. Motion carried unanimously. No one appeared to discuss the Planning Board Minutes of August 31, 1976 and the Mayor told the Council that the Board would hold a Public Hearing during their September meeting to consider the Hedlund request for the rezoning of the west 187 feet of Lot 10, Block 6, Mounds View Acres, to allow the existing structure on that lot to be remodeled to accomodate the Gold Tiara Beauty Salon. He explained that under the new zoning ordinance the Board is empowered to hold Public Hearings on their own authority. He then added to the Agenda as Item #6£, consideration of the resolution regarding Street Improvement Project #1976-2 which had been tabled at the last meeting. The Council then considered the report of the Human Relations Committee Chairman in which the Chairman, Earl Scott, had indicated his intention of resigning from that position. Mr. Scott was present and Council members expressed their disappointment at his resignation, commended him for the fine job he had done while serving and asked for his recommendations for filling the numerous vacancies on the committee. Mr. Scott suggested that persons who were not too active in other endeavors should be sought to serve on the committee. It was the consensus of the Council that in the future formal resig- nations should be submitted to the Council member whose appointee the person resigning had been or to the Council as a whole. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to re- gretfully accept the resignation of Earl Scott from the Human Relations Committee and to direct that a Certificate of Appreciation be sent to him for his fine service on the Committee. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Sauer to direct that a letter be sent to all the present members of the Human Relations Committee informing them of the resignation of Chairman Scott and of the appointment of Jim Gahagan as temporary Chairman of the Committee. Motion carried unanimously. The following motion was made regarding the revised ordinance pertain- ing to commercial parking lots which reflects the changes suggested by the Council. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to waive further readings and adopt Ordinance 1976-009. ORDINANCE NO. 1976 - 009 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO ZONING AND TO THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS: AMENDING SECTION 12 OF SECTION 300 OF THE 1973 CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING A NEW SUBDIVISION 13 THERETO Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Haik also expressed her concern with better enforcement of other City regulations dealing with the disposal of trash in areas other than parking lots. Mr. Dulgar explained that the ordinance establishing responsibility for the repair and maintenance of water pipes had been further revised since its consideration at the August 24th meeting to include the connection of pipes from commercial establishments to the public water system. The attorney read the revised ordinance. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Sauer to waive further readings and adopt Ordinance 1976 - 010. ORDINANCE NO. 1976 - 010 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF WATER PIPES CONNECTING TO CITY WATER SYSTEM; AMENDING SECTION 245 OF THE 1973 CODE OF ORDIN- ANCES BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 245:55 THERETO -2- Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Vickrey then read Ordinance 1976-011 which formalizes the City's policy regarding the responsibility for sanitary sewer connections to the public sewer lines. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to waive further readings and adopt Ordinance #1976-011. ORDINANCE 1976 - 011 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM; AMENDING SECTION 235 OF THE 1973 CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 235:26 THERETO Motion carried unanimously. Councilmen Stauffer and Haik were concerned whether Chapter 70 0£ the Uniform Building Code which will establish grades on property and ex- cavations will be restrictive enough to control such forms of drainage such as that from filled lots to unfilled lots and wanted further research done by the staff on whether requiring permits might better control such problems. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to waive further readings and adopt the ordinance which adds Chapter 70 of the Uniform Building Code to the City building codes. ORDINANCE 1976 - 012 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, AND EXCAVATIONS AND FILLS; AMENDING SECTION 310:01 OF THE 1973 CODE OF ORDINANCES Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by councilman Sauer to adopt resolution #76 - 038. RESOLUTION #76 - 038 A RESOLUTION CREATING FUND NO. 17 Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Sundland to adopt resolution #76 - 039. RESOLUTION #76 - 039 A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT Motion carried unanimously. Explanation was given by the 'Manager and Attorney that the encroachment agreement prepared by the Attorney was a model agreement drawn up to -3- be used in cases similar to the request from Mrs. King of 517 - 15th Avenue S.W., New Brighton, that she be allowed to leave enough of her fence which is now on City property near the holding pond to enable her to enclose the plantings and trees she has planted on that pro- perty. Mr. Vickrey said the agreement is tailored to move any adverse rights to that property. Mr. Dennis Engle, a member of the Mirror Lake Manor Board of Directors, said a poll is being taken of his group regarding the removal of the fence and continuance of the existing chip pathway around the holding pond for the use of joggers. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Mayor Miedtke to approve the concept of the Encroachment Agreement prepared by the City Attorney for use in such instances and places as the Council deems necessary. Motion carried unanimously. John Wagner and Jerry Ballot, of the St. Anthony Kiwanis Club, appeared to seek permission for their organization to solicit donations for peanuts on the main intersections of and in the commercial buildings throughout the City on Friday, September 24, 1976 and to put up explan- atory signs at the corners of 33rd Avenue N.E. and Silver Lake Road and in the new park area north of the shopping center. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Haik to grant the request of the St. Anthony Kiwanis Club to solicit donations for peanuts, on September 24, 1976, at the sites requested and to put up the appropriate signs which will advertise the project as requested. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was recessed at 8:30 P.M. and reconvened at 8:35 P.M. to hear comments from James Wiehoff regarding the employment of city re- sidents in the City government. Mr. Wiehoff posed a list of questions dealing with the efforts made by City staff to seek residents to fill job openings, the number of persons on the City payroll, a comparison of the last five years budgets and percentage of raises granted to City employees. He also wanted to know the amount of reserve which is kept under investment, and requested that a copy of each agenda for each Council meeting be sent to his home prior to each meeting. The Mayor pointed out to Mr. Wiehoff what it would cost to provide this service for every resident and told him the agendas are available at City Hall at least a day before each regular meeting of either the Council or Planning Board. He also suggested that most of the infor- mation Mr. Wiehoff had requested would not be readily available during a Council meeting and suggested that more accurate figures could be gotten directly from the staff at City Hall. It was also pointed out that hiring a professional consultant to make a cost study of the City staff would entail another costly item to be budgeted for. Mr. Wiehoff and the other two residents who were with him were then invited to -4- remain for the budget meetings to be held following the Council meeting that evening and at 7:30 P.M. September 21st. Mr. Marie Michaeloff did not appear to make her presentation regarding the repair of the sanitary sewer line connecting her home with the public sewer lines nor her plans for building a larger structure than the RII now allowed for the lot she owns on the corner of 37th Avenue N.E. and Silver Lake Road. These matters were therefore tabled. The August 24th letter from the Association of Metropolitan Municipali- ties was filed. The request from the Board of Directors of Mirror Lake Manor for the installation of additional street lighting near the apartments was dis- cussed with Mr. Engle who was told the City would probably experience a deficit in the funds available for such lighting which fact would probably be considered during the budget meetings. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Sundland to table action on the Mirror Lake Manor request for additional street lighting for consideration during the budget meetings. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Stauffer not to rejoin the Suburban Public Health Nursing Service since the same service is now being provided to the City by the North Memorial Hospital Home Care Service for little or no cost at all. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Stauffer discussed the Metropolitan Land Planning Act and her committee's efforts to work with the Metro staff in preparing pur- suasive rather than dictative regulations. The letter from Mr. and Mrs. Don Miller expressing their dissatisfaction with the manner in which the boulevard along their front lawn had been damaged during the installation of a right hand turn onto Silver Lake Road from 29th Avenue N.E. during the reconstruction of that street was discussed. No one could recall Mr. Miller expressing his objections to the plans for that turn during the meetings held to consider the plans for the project although the Manager said Mr. .Miller had expressed several times to him his unhappiness with the loss of his front yard. Mr. Dulgar said he had referred the matter to the City's insurance company. Mr. Vickrey agreed that the City is allowed to dedicate $5,000 to Public Relations advertising but said such funds must be generated by levy. The Attorney left the meeting at 9:37 P.M. -5- No need was seen for the semaphors which Minneapolis and Hennepin County want to install at the intersection of Lowry Avenue N.E. with Stinson Boulevard and for which the City's share would amount to approximately $3,000. The Manager pointed out that the present 4 -way stop tended to slow down traffic along Kenzie Terrace. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Sauer to direct the City Manager to let Minneapolis and Hennepin County know that the Council does not approve of the semaphor they are suggesting for the intersection of Lowry Avenue N.E. and Stinson Boulevard and will not participate in the funding of the project. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Sauer and Stauffer indicated they planned to attend the National League of Cities meeting in Denver and Councilman Haik said she might also be able to go. The list of City residents who were seen in August by North Memorial Medical Home Care personnel was filed. Joan Patterson, Roscella Connolly and Mary Hoffman of the St. Anthony League of Women Voters were present to discuss the league's plans for updating the "Know Your Community" booklet and asked the Council to set aside $1,200 for publication of the booklet during the coming year. Mayor Miedtke said he was grateful they had presented their request in time for it to be considered with the budget and said a decision would probably be reached by October 8th. Mr. Gahagan suggested the League should also contact the merchants and commercial interests in the City for participation in the project. At 9:50 P.M. the meeting was recessed to call to order the Canvass Board so they might receive the primary election results from Carol Johnson, City Clerk. The Council meeting was reconvened at 10:01 P.M. The packet of Natural Resources Model Ordinances from the Metropolitan Council was discussed and the Manager said he felt since the City is an established municipality only the Wetlands Ordinance might be useful. In response to the directive from the State Planning Agency the follow- ing motion was made: Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Sauer to approve and maintain the existing precinct boundaries for the City of St. Anthony. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Dulgar said that though Ramsey County had indicated the signals at Silver Lane and 39th Avenue N.E. and Silver Lake Road were operating in the manner they were intended to, he had received several com- plaints from the residents of that area about the difficulty of cross- ing those intersections as well as a letter from the Silver Oak school officials saying they consider the crossings to be a hazard to the pupils who have to cross Silver Lake Road to reach the school. They were therefore busing those children the short distance to school. Councilman Haik said she had noticed that the left turn signals acti- vate while the "Walk" pedestrian indicators are on, creating a great deal of confusion in the minds of pedestrains about the safety of proceeding from the meridian. She asked that the matter be tabled until the other council members had studied the situation for themselves. The Manager discussed his September 8th memo regarding the Public Works Bill and the NLC report on the bill and said he will keep the Council informed on further developments. Councilman Stauffer said she had been receiving many complaints about the careless driving and speeding of young drivers along Skycroft Drive. She suggested that the public be advised to take down the of- fenders' car licenses and report to the police who, though they might take no legal action, could contact the drivers and their parents. Mr. Dulgar said this has been police policy for years and pointed out the fact that Skycroft like many other City areas is now seeing their younger generation turn into teenagers with the attendant problems of that transition. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Sundland to approve payment of all Verified Claims listed in the September 14, 1976 Agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Dulgar placed Central Air Conditioning as an addition to the firms seeking heating licenses listed in the Agenda. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Sauer to approve all licenses including that mentioned above which are listed in the September 14, 1976 Agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Sauer asked for clarification regarding the item identified as "resident Perry injury" which was listed in the statement of account submitted by the City Attorney. The Manager said this involved an injury to a boy who rode his bike over the curb down by the new inter- section of Kenzie Terrace and St. Anthony Boulevard. It was noted that the Minnesota Highway Department had failed to comply with State regulations to make all curbing barrier free for the handicapped along the roadway they had constructed at the intersections of Kenzie Terrace and Highway 8 with St. Anthony Boulevard. A resolution asking that this ommission be rectified is to be prepared by the Manager for future Council action. -7- Motion by Councilman Sauer seconded by Councilman Stauffer to approve payment to the Dorsey Firm in the amount of $3,396.75. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Mayor Miedtke to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 P.M. to work on the budget. Motion carried unanimously. ATTEST: L& e , �ys1 Clerk WB